Stay Active and Independent for Life is a strength, balance and fitness program for adults 65 and older. Performing exercises that improve strength, balance and fitness is the single most important activity adults can do to stay active and reduce their chances of falling. The entire curriculum of activities in the Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) program can help improve strength and balance, if done regularly.
SAIL is a public-domain program, which means there are no initial site license fees and no yearly renewal fees for conducting SAIL classes. SAIL has been approved by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) (previously known as the Administration on Aging) as an evidence-based program.
Learn about SAIL history and background.
- SAIL community classes
- SAIL program leaders
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Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) classes are conducted by fitness, exercise science and healthcare professionals who have completed SAIL program leader training. Program leaders usually have an exercise science or clinical practice background. All program leaders are carefully selected for their ability to deliver effective and efficient training, while adhering to the core components of the SAIL program. Leaders work with participants to help achieve the best results from the fitness classes.
In Washington, there are two ways to become a SAIL program leader:
- Attend a sponsored, in-person class throughout the state. The in-person training is highly interactive, with an emphasis on learning by doing, rather than learning by listening to a lecture. The training includes practice of the SAIL fitness class, as well as the standardized tests of strength and balance that are used as outcome measures.
- Enroll in the Pierce College online course. The online training is especially appropriate for potential SAIL program leaders with an exercise science, healthcare, physical, occupational or recreational therapy background.
If you are looking for SAIL Training outside of Washington state you may sign up through Pierce College.
- Publications
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The Blue SAIL Guide (PDF) offers written information for adults age 65 and older on topics such as Building Your Fitness Plan, Understanding Your Health Issues and Keeping Yourself Independent Through Home Safety (25 pages).
SAIL materials are public domain and may be reproduced without permission. If you use or adapt SAIL materials, please credit the Washington State Department of Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Program.
- Research
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See the following published articles for more information on the benefits of SAIL for seniors:
- Laing S, Silver I, York S, Phelan E. Fall prevention knowledge, attitudes and practices of community stakeholders and older adults (PDF). Journal of Aging Research, Vol. 2011 (2011) article ID 395357;
- York SC, Shumway-Cook A, Silver I, Morrison C. A translational research evaluation of the “Stay Active and Independent for Life” (SAIL): a community-based fall prevention exercise and education program. Health Promotion Practice; 12(6):832-839, November 2011;
- Carlson T, York SC, Primomo J. The utilization of geographic information systems to create a site selection strategy to disseminate an older adult fall prevention program (PDF). The Social Science Journal; January 2011, 48(1):159-174,
- Shumway-Cook A, Silver IF, LeMier M, York S, Cummings P, Koepsell T. The effectiveness of a community-based multi-factorial intervention on falls and fall risk factors in community living older adults: A randomized, controlled trial (PDF). Journal of Gerontology: Medical Science 2007; 62(12):1420-1427.
- SAIL Program: Research and Review Articles 2016-2024
Kandalgaonkar GL, Panwar J. Effectiveness of SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life) Protocol on Functional Mobility in Older Adults with Sarcopenic Obesity – A Quasi-Experimental Study. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, May 2024. 14(5):339-344. - Estep A, Morrison S, Caswell SV, Cortes N, Ambegaonkar JP, Vaz JR. Multifactorial Exercise Intervention Decreases Falls Risk in High-risk and Low-risk Older Adults. Sports Health a Multidisciplinary Approach, March 2023. 16(3): 414-419.
- Elrod CS, Pappa ST, Heyn PC, Wong RA. Using an academic-community partnership model to deliver evidence-based falls prevention programs in a metropolitan setting: A community case study. Frontiers in Public Health, March 2023. 11:1073520.
- Klima DW, Rabel M, Mandelblatt A, Miklosovich M, Putman T, Smith A. Community-Based Fall Prevention and Exercise Programs for Older Adults. June 2021, Current Geriatrics Reports 10(2):1-8.
- Muniak J, Swan L, Piersol CV. Enhanced SAIL Program: Evaluation of an Evidence-based Fall Prevention Program for Community Dwelling Elders. May 2019, Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics 37 (1): 67-75.
- Taylor-Pilia RE, Peterson RL, Mohler MJ. Clinical and Community Strategies to Prevent Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults. September 2017, Nursing Clinics of North America 52(3):489-497.
- Renfro M, Maring J, Bainbridge D, Blair M. Fall Risk Among Older Adult High-Risk Populations: a Review of Current Screening and Assessment Tools. September 2016, Current Geriatrics Reports 5: 160-171.
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